China Day 4

The day started out okay, but kept going downhill. We headed to the airport, where Lynn (our guide) helped us check-in, but then after a photo with her we had to say goodbye to go through security.  In security, they seem to just do things on a whim in China.  Last time, they took my sanitizer, but let Abri keep hers.  This time, I was made to open the liquid Benedryl and drink some while they watched me closely, to make sure it was okay for us to take through.  And Abri's bag was very closely scrutinized. We made it through that, and headed to our gate.  After arriving at the gate, it appears all the signs were wrong.  It had our flight number with another city.  This airport had no English announcements and we did not find an English speaking employee.  We asked several times if we had the correct gate.  People started lining up, so we got in line, but were not sure if it was right.  After what seemed like an hour we finally got to the front and were told no, to wait to the side.  We waiting again forever.  Finally, after we had been waiting over 2 hours the sign was correct for our flight and we got on the bus.  The bus is crowded standing, and it takes you out to board the plane. (Allee was so very patient at the airport.  She was very quiet and not complaining much, even though the wait was miserable.  She had been excited to get on the plane all day.) I had to sit with 2 Chinese men, and the other 3 sat on the other side together.  To say the flight from Harbin to Guangzhou was interesting would be an understatement.  The 2 men next to me refused to wear their seatbelts the whole time.  One told Allee to take hers off,, and then he was talking to her in Chinese.  I think he was making a joke of either us or her.  It wasn't pleasant at all.  The one guy got up and headed to the back of the plane while it was headed out to the runway.  The man behind us argued with the flight attendants for about 20 minutes over drinks.  People were getting out of their seats right after we landed and were going down the runway.  No one listens here.  They just do whatever they want, no matter what they are told.  (Here in Guangzhou it seems a little calmer than in Harbin though.) After we landed in Guangzhou, everything went smooth.  We found our checked suitcase and found our new guide, Elsie, right away.  We had to wait a bit for the car, and then headed to the hotel.  The driving laws are more strict here, so there isn't as much crazy driving and honking.  We were so very thankful to arrive at the hotel finally.